Philippines keen on including nuclear in energy mix

The Philippines is mulling the inclusion of nuclear energy in its energy mix as it seeks to attract investments in data centers and other industries that would increase power demand, President Marcos stated. The President emphasized the need for sufficient power generation to support industries, especially in the areas of artificial intelligence (AI) and the digital economy, stating that the country is currently generating adequate power, but the future demand for power is expected to surge significantly.

Conceding that the Philippines is vulnerable to oil price shocks due to the fact that over 99% of its oil is imported, Marcos highlighted that nuclear energy should be considered as one of the viable options to mitigate such risks. During the presidency of his late father, the Bataan Nuclear Power Plant was constructed as a response to an oil crisis in the 1970s, but it was shut down in 1986 following safety concerns and allegations of corruption.

In 2020, Marcos enacted the Philippine National Nuclear Energy Safety Act, establishing a legal framework for nuclear energy production, ensuring its peaceful, safe, and secure use, and protecting people and the environment from harmful radiations. During his recent visit to the Singapore Nuclear Research and Safety Institute, Marcos reiterated the need to revisit nuclear energy production, noting that the Philippines is currently employing nuclear technology in various sectors such as medicine, agriculture, water filtration, and plastic upcycling.